Advocates worry about message to survivors following Hockey Canada sex assault trial

A sexual assault expert in Waterloo Region is calling for more education following the Hockey Canada court verdict. CTV’s Heather Senoran explains why.

Advocates in Waterloo Region are raising concerns following the conclusion of a high-profile sexual assault case.

On Thursday, Ontario Superior Court Justice Maria Carroccia acquitted all five former Hockey Canada players involved in a sexual assault trial.

Sara Casselman, executive director at the Sexual Assault Centre Waterloo Region (SASCWR), said the verdict only tells part of the story.

“I do think with the not guilty verdicts, we have to be very careful,” she said. “That does not mean that someone is not guilty of causing harm. And in this case, harm definitely happened.”

SASCWR has been closely following the trial, and even has a wall of support for the woman at the centre of the case, who is only known as E.M. due to a publication order. E.M. claimed she had been sexually assaulted by the players in a London, Ont. hotel. The wall at SASCWR has ‘We believe E.M.’ written across the top in chalk with other messages of support underneath.

“We, as survivor advocates, are taking this whole thing as a call to action because she stepped up, and so are we,” Casselman said.

Casselman told CTV News she is worried about how the outcome of the case could influence sexual assault survivors because many victims are too scared to come forward with their claims.

“With a 6 per cent reporting rate, and then about one in ten of those causes actually having a conviction, we know that the justice system doesn’t often serve survivors well,” she said.

A key component of the case revolved around consent. E.M. said she was intoxicated during the events that transpired at the hotel. However, defence lawyers submitted video that they argued showed she wasn’t showing signs of extreme intoxication.

“I think way more consent education is needed. Folks should learn very young if someone is inebriated, they can’t consent to sexual activity,” Casselman said.

Casselman said she’s heard about similar cases over the two decades she has been supporting survivors. She believes ‘playful locker room banter’ can turn into a toxic environment.

“We’ve seen that there is definitely a link between that toxic sport culture and sexual violence,” she said.

Last week, the Kitchener Rangers pledged $50,000 to help the SASCWR offer free training to young hockey players in the community, with a focus around healthy relationships and consent.

SASCWR also provides Ontario Hockey League-mandated OHL ONSIDE training to Rangers players and staff and has recently been asked by the league to take on an expanded role and facilitate the training for all of its 20 teams.

“Coaches, administrators and players who want to be allies and leaders in this work need to set a new bar in terms of expectations about how they treat women, about how they obtained consent, and about what it means to be a man,” Casselman said.

Casselman wants survivors to know there is still value in coming forward. She often hears survivors do it because they don’t want it to happen to someone else. If needed, the SASCWR has a legal team that can help survivors through the entire process as it can be tough to navigate a sexual assault case in the legal system.

If you or someone you know is struggling with sexual assault or trauma, the following resources are available to support people in crisis:

If you are in immediate danger or fear for your safety, you should call 911.

A full list of sexual assault centres in Canada that offer information, advocacy and counselling can be found ​on the website for the Canadian Association of Sexual Assault Centres.

Helplines, legal services and locations that offer sexual assault kits in Alberta, B.C., Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Quebec, Ontario and Nova Scotia can be found here.

National Residential School Crisis Line: [phone]

24-hour crisis line: 416 597 8808

Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline: [phone]

Trans Lifeline: [phone]

Sexual misconduct support for current or former members of the Armed Forces: [phone]

Read about your rights as a victim here.